Data processing methods and apparatus for supporting analysis/judgement

ABSTRACT

A database preparing method prepares a design database from which design database image elements are retrievable to build composite design images for decision making. The entire design image, including a plurality of separable image elements, is input into a processing unit. At least one of the image elements is extracted from the entire design image. The characteristic data which (i) identifies the extracted image element and (ii) corresponds to the entire design image is recorded and stored into a memory. The foregoing steps are repeated to build the design database. In a database retrieving method, a partial image of an entire image is input as a retrieval key. The entire image which corresponds to the retrieval key is retrieved from a database stored in a memory. The retrieved entire image is output.

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 07/853,515, filed Mar. 18, 1992, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,450,314.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to data processing for supporting analysis/judgement based on human sensitivity called "kansei" such as fashion sense and preference which is a human's ambiguous reactive characteristic for a sense, and more particularly to data processing methods and apparatus suitable for supporting analysis/judgement which requires high level and various kansei.

A kansei data processing system refers to a system for processing data relative to the human's kansei. This kind of conventional system is described, for example, in Mitsuo Nagamachi, "Kansei Engineering", pp 43-84, (Kaibundo, 1989).

According to this article, when a plurality of adjective groups are inputted from a user, a conventional system (kansei engineering expert system) extracts a main image represented by the adjective groups, narrows down only such adjectives that match the image well, independently selects design elements represented by the narrowed down adjectives, and synthesizes and outputs these elements. If the user is not satisfied with the output result, the elements constituting the synthesized design are independently changed to other elements. Incidentally, the relationship between the design element and the adjective is obtained as an appraised value or score by processing survey results using Semantic Differential (SD) for the whole design including respective design elements with the evaluation theory class I.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As described above, the utilization of the conventional system begins with inputting user's favorite adjectives. However, the use of adjectives (an image conceived by the user) differs a lot among individuals. Particularly, it can be said that taste in fashion which is complicated, subtle and widely changeable cannot be exactly expressed only by adjectives. The conventional system, thus employing, as unique inputs, adjectives which are different in use among individuals, so that the user's kansei cannot be correctly analyzed or utilized.

Also, generally in the appraisal based on human's kansei, the addition nature does not dominate a combination of design elements. That is, a combination of design elements may result in increasing or decreasing its appraisal. More specifically, even if design elements are individually optimized, a resultant combination thereof is not always the best one. From this point of view, the conventional system individually collects appraisals for each of the design elements, constitutes a combination of a plurality of individual design elements by a simple addition of the individual design elements, and synthesizes them independently of each other, which presents difficulties in manipulations.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide improved data processing method and apparatus for supporting analysis/judgement which can eliminate the above-mentioned problems inherent to the prior art techniques.

It is another object of the present invention to provide data processing method and apparatus which can uniformly and stably accomplish analysis/judgement requiring high-level and various kansei such as recommendation of coordinates for fashion goods instead of a human in a sufficiently satisfactory accuracy level.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a data processing method for supporting analysis/judgement includes the steps of inputting an object to be appraised; dividing the inputted object to be appraised into structural elements and storing the elements in storage unit; inputting information indicative of an appraisal for the inputted object to be appraised; and identifying relationships between the structural elements of the object to be appraised and the inputted appraisal, and classifying the relationships and storing the relationships in the storage unit.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a data processing method for supporting analysis/judgement includes the steps of selecting an arbitrary criterion among at least one criterion; obtaining a combination of structural elements on the basis of the selected criterion; inputting an appraisal information for the obtained combination of structural elements; comparing the obtained combination of structural elements and the appraisal with the selected criterion to identify a criterion; creating a combination of elements constituting an object to be appraised on the basis of the identified criterion; inputting information for designating elements to be changed and elements not to be changed in the created combination; and creating a new combination on the basis of the designation information.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a data processing method for supporting analysis/judgement includes the steps of inputting an object to be appraised; dividing the inputted object to be appraised into at least one structural elements and storing the elements in storage unit; inputting information indicative of an appraisal for the inputted object to be appraised; identifying relationships between the structural elements constituting the object to be appraised and the inputted appraisal, and classifying the relationships and storing the same in the storage means; selecting a criterion from among stored criterions; obtaining a combination of structural elements on the basis of the selected criterion; inputting appraisal information for the obtained combination of structural elements; comparing the obtained combination of structural elements and the appraisal with the selected criterion to identify another criterion; creating a combination of elements constituting the object to be appraised on the basis of the identified criterion; inputting information for designating elements to be changed and elements not to be changed in the created combination; and creating a new combination on the basis of the designation information.

The data processing method and apparatus according to the present invention are generally composed of a system to accumulate kansei information and/or a system to use kansei information. In the system to accumulate kansei information, appraisal information on users' objects to be appraised is collected and classified to create criterions.

In the system to use kansei information, objects to be appraised are synthesized on the basis of an arbitrary criterion thus created, and the criterion for a particular user is identified on the basis of appraisal information on objects to be appraised of the particular user. Preferably, the object to be appraised is synthesized on the basis of the identified criterion, and the particular user can modify structural elements of the criterion.

In the data processing method and apparatus according to the present invention, the appraisal information directly inputted from an input unit by a user is such information as "Do you like it or not?", "Which do you like better?", "Are you satisfied with it?", and "How about this one?", by way of example. These questions are kansei with respect to a direct determination made to objects to be appraised (such as design). Therefore, this appraisal information, different from an intermediate expression of kansei such as the adjective which may differ in its usage remarkably among individuals, allows a more precise analysis of kansei.

Also, since the storage accumulates appraisals for combinations of structural elements of objects to be appraised, if a user is not satisfied with a current combination proposal, it can be entirely replaced with a different desirable combination. Further, the unit for indicating a particular element in a current combination can propose a different combination in which satisfied elements are left and other undesirable elements are replaced. These units allow the user to fast and precisely obtain desired objects to be appraised.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a data processing apparatus for supporting analysis/judgement according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a combination of ordinary devices embodying the data processing apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a kansei data collection processing in the data processing apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating an example of a kansei data use processing in the data processing apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating an example of the kansei data collection processing when the data processing apparatus of FIG. 1 is applied to a system for recommendation of coordinates for women's fashion;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating an example of the kansei data use processing when the data processing apparatus of FIG. 1 is applied to a system for recommendation of coordinates for women's fashion;

FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating an image for designing coordinates and an example of its division method;

FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating an example of an attribute sheet for indicating characteristic data of each divided image element;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a model image of a standard woman's figure for synthesizing image element images;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams used for explaining a method of appraising a design image using the Semantic Differential of paired adjectives;

FIG. 10 is a table indicating the results of an appraisal for a design image processed by the evaluation theory class I;

FIG. 11A is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a multi-layer neural network for learning kansei;

FIG. 11B is a table showing an example of a learning sheet used in the neural network of FIG. 11A;

FIG. 12 is a table showing an example of a file layout of a kansei database;

FIG. 13 is a diagram used for explaining a method of appraising a coordinate design image based on common kansei;

FIG. 14 is a diagram used for explaining a method of appraising a coordinate design image based on a plurality of specific kansei; and

FIGS. 15A and 15B are diagrams illustrating an example of a partial change in a coordinate design image.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

One embodiment of the present invention will hereinbelow be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the basic configuration of a data processing apparatus for supporting analysis/judgement according to the present invention. Suppose herein that kansei is referred to as criterion and an object to be appraised by kansei (for example, a design) as an object to be appraised.

In FIG. 1, a processing unit 201 of the data processing apparatus comprises input device 202 for inputting an object to be appraised in a form detectable by human's feeling; a storage unit 203 for storing a variety of information; a division unit 101 for dividing the inputted object to be appraised into at least one structural elements and storing the same in a first storage area of the storage unit 203; synthesizing unit 102 for combining at least one the divided structural elements to synthesize an object to be appraised; an output device 206 for outputting the synthesized object to be appraised in a form detectable by human's feeling; an input device 205 for a user to input his or her will in the form of electric signal; an appraisal information corresponding unit 103 for corresponding the object to be appraised outputted to the output device to appraisal information and inputting such correspondence from the input device 205; a criterion generation unit 104 for classifying the inputted correspondence of a combination of structural elements of the object to be appraised to the appraisal information into at least one criterions and storing the same in a second storage area of the storage unit 203; a criterion comparison and identification unit 105 for comparing an arbitrary criterion stored in the storage unit 203 with the correspondence of a combination of structural elements based on the arbitrary criterion to newly inputted appraisal information for the combination and identifying the criterion; a unit 106 for inputting from the input device 205 information for designating elements to be changed and elements to be maintained, in a combination of elements constituting the object to be appraised on the basis of the identified criterion, and changing the object to be appraised.

The units 101-104 constitute a system to accumulate kansei information for generating at least one criterion on the basis of kansei data from many users, while the units 102, 105, 106 constitute a system to use kansei information for creating an object to be appraised for a particular user on the basis of the thus generated criterion.

An example of the configuration of devices for realizing this apparatus includes, as shown in FIG. 2, the processing unit, e.g. computer 201 with the input device 202 for inputting an object to be appraised, the output device 206, the storage unit 203 and the input device 205, all being connected to the processing unit 201.

Since a human obtains more information from the sense of sight than information from other sense organs, it is desirable to treat an object to be appraised as visual information. However, other sensory information such as speech or acoustic information may of course be used.

The input device 202 for inputting an object to be appraised may be an image input unit such as a so-called image scanner or image reader. These image input units may be one for reading a black and white (binary) image or a half-tone image, however, a so-called full-color or natural color input unit is desirable which can treat abundant colors. If this requirement is satisfied, the input device may be a television camera. On the other hand, if speech is used as an object to be appraised, a speech input device such as a microphone is used as the input device. In the preferred embodiment, the output device 206 is desirably a color display, particularly a high resolution color graphic display. Alternatively, it may be a color printer. The storage unit 203 is not limited to a magnetic storage unit but may be an optical disk drive or a semiconductor memory. Any storage unit may be used as long as it has a sufficient capacity for executing programs and storing image files. The input device 205 is shown as a pointing device (mouse) in FIG. 2, however, it may be another input device such as a keyboard or a combination of such devices.

Incidentally, if an object to be appraised is drawn on paper and inputted by reading it by an input device, the operator may operate the units 101-104 seeing the object to be appraised on the paper without outputting the inputted object to be appraised to the output device.

As will be immediately understood from the foregoing explanation by those skilled in the art, the configuration of devices for implementing the present invention may be a generally called computer or computer system. More specifically, it may be a large-size computer, a work station or a personal computer. Alternately, an exclusive apparatus may be manufactured for implementing the present invention if it provides the above-mentioned functions of the peripheral devices.

The processing within the processing unit 201 of the data processing apparatus may be divided into accumulation of kansei information and use of the same, as described above. A processing flow of the accumulation system will first be described with reference to FIG. 3. In the accumulation system of kansei data, a wide variety of kansei data is accumulated from as many users as possible and classified.

An object to be appraised is inputted from the input device 202 (step 301), and outputted to the output device 206 (step 302). When instruction information is inputted from the input device for instructing a division of the inputted object to be appraised, the unit 101 divides the inputted object to be appraised into at least one structural element and stores the same in the first storage area of the storage unit 203 (step 303).

The unit 102 combines the divided structural elements to synthesize the object to be appraised, and then the user is instructed to input appraisal information on the object to be appraised from the input device 205. The unit 103 corresponds the combination of the structural elements to the appraisal information (step 304). Based on the correspondence from the user, the unit 104 classifies the correspondence of the combination of the structural elements to the appraisal information and stores as at least one criterions in the second storage area of the storage unit 203 (step 305).

Next, a processing flow of the use system will be explained with reference to FIG. 4. Main functions of the use system include analyzing a criterion of a particular user on the basis of accumulated criterions and creating an object to be appraised by the use of the analysis results such that the particular user will highly appreciate the created object to be appraised.

First, an arbitrary criterion is selected by the unit 105 from criterions stored in the storage unit 203, and a combination of typical structural elements which is highly appraised by the selected criterion is extracted from the storage unit 203. The unit 102 then combines the structural elements to synthesize an object to be appraised and outputs it to the output device 206 (step 401). Next, the unit 105 prompts the particular user to input appraisal information on the outputted object to be appraised from the input device 205, and corresponds the combination of the structural elements to the inputted appraisal information (step 402). The unit 105 further compares this correspondence with the criterions stored in the storage unit 203 to identify a criterion of the particular user (step 403). The above steps 401-404 are repeated until the accuracy of the identification is determined to be sufficient (step 404). The unit 105 creates a combination of structural elements which is highly appraised on the basis of the criterion of the particular user, the identification of which has been determined to be sufficient, combines the structural elements to synthesize an object to be appraised, and outputs the same to the output device 206 (step 405). The unit 106 prompts the particular user to input appraisal information on the outputted object to be appraised from the input device 205 (step 406). When the appraisal is low or insufficient (step 407), the particular user is instructed to input information for designating elements in the combination to be changed or not to be changed from the input device 205 (step 408). The unit 106 changes elements in the combination on the basis of the user's designation, followed by the processing flow returning to step 405 to newly synthesize an object to be appraised and output the same to the output device 206. The above steps 405-408 are repeated until the user is finally satisfied with a created object to be appraised (step 407). Thus, an object to be appraised for a particular user can be created on the basis of criterions made based on kansei data of ordinary users.

Incidentally, if the user is not yet satisfied after the steps 405-408 are repeated several times, the identification of kansei criterion should be made again or the processing flow should be returned to the accumulation system to build again a kansei database.

Next, description will be made as to a case where the data processing apparatus of the present invention is applied to a system for recommendation of coordinates for woman's fashion. Specifically, detailed explanation will be given of a case where a design image for coordinating women's clothes is set as an object to be appraised, utilizing kansei to determine "like-dislike" of a design image as a criterion.

This system can be utilized in department stores or clothing item retail stores such as fashion boutiques as a sales promotion tool for face-to-face sales.

The configuration of this system is the same as that shown in FIG. 1, wherein a work station is employed as the computer 201, a color image scanner as the input device 202 for inputting an object to be appraised, a mouse as the input device 205, a magnetic disk drive as the storage unit 203, and a graphic display as the output device 206, respectively, by way of example.

FIG. 5 is a detailed flow chart illustrating an example of a processing of a data accumulation sub-system in the present system, and FIG. 6 is a detailed flow chart illustrating an example of a processing of a data use sub-system in the same system.

First, the processing shown in FIG. 5 will be explained in sequence.

<STEP 501> Input of Design Image as Object to be Appraised

First, a design image 701 for coordinates to either one or both of tops 702 (for example, blouse), and bottoms 703 (for example, a skirt), as shown in FIG. 7A, is inputted using the color image scanner 202. In this event, a reduced scale of the coordinate image 701, for example, a ratio of the image size to the actual size (for example, 1/20) is also inputted together with the coordinate image 701.

<STEP 502> Output of Design Image

The inputted design image 701 for coordinates is outputted to the graphic display 206.

<STEP 503> Division of Structural Elements of Design Image

The inputted design image 701 for coordinates is first divided into the tops 702 and the bottoms 703 by the unit 101. Note, however, that if either one of the tops 702 and the bottoms 703 only has been inputted, the following division processing is of course not necessary.

First, examination is made as to whether or not the inputted design image includes image elements stored in the magnetic storage unit 203. This processing employs a pattern matching processing of particular images which is well known by those skilled in the art. In this event, if the mouse 205 is used to indicate a kind of element 706 (e.g., tops or bottoms), where on the image each element exists, and so on, the accuracy and speed of the pattern matching can be remarkably improved.

When an image element has already been stored as one of structural models, such image element may be cut out and displayed in a manner different from other regions, for example, in a blink mode, for easy distinction. Other image elements which have not been stored may be cut out by tracing the boundaries thereof by the user with the mouse 205 or by inputting several reference points to allow the system to interpolate these points with a smooth straight line or curve.

In this embodiment, the image elements of the tops 702 and the bottoms 703 are cut out and stored in the magnetic disk unit 203 after the sizes thereof are adjusted to comply with a standard scale by using the reduced scale 705. The image elements 702 and 703 have their characteristic data resolved by an image processing to be expressed by numerical values. Specifically, the characteristic data of the tops is resolved on an attribute sheet 706, for example, into the color of the tops, the shape of neck which is a partial element of the tops (e.g., V-shape, . . . ). The characteristic data of the bottoms is also resolved in detail into elements such as the form (tight, . . . ), and such elements are expressed by numerical values and indicated on the attribute sheet 706, as shown in FIG. 7B. As to color, intensities of light of the three primary colors or red, green and blue are extracted and utilized as characteristic data. The neck in turn is extracted by a matching processing using basic forms 704 of necks previously registered in the magnetic disk unit 203 as particular patterns, and if the cut out neck on the image matches one of the basic forms 704, it is given the symbol of the basic form.

Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 8, four sizes of model images 801 for women's figure, e.g., S, M, L and LL have been previously prepared in a standard scale and stored in the magnetic disk unit 203. The synthesis of image elements are realized by cutting and pasting image elements on the model image 801. A reference position for cutting and pasting image elements is expressed by a meshed two dimensional coordinate system having i-j axes which is superimposed on the model image 801.

<STEP 504> Input of Appraisal for a Design Image

The outputted design image 701 is appraised by using the Semantic Differential of a plurality of paired adjectives for expressing women's clothes coordinates. Specifically, the unit 103 classifies favorable impressions and unfavorable impressions of paired adjectives such as "pretty-not pretty" into, e.g., five levels, and a table 901 indicating scores in these five levels are outputted simultaneously with the design image, as shown in FIG. 9A, to allow the user to select and input the score in one of the five levels by the mouse 205.

Incidentally, adjectives have been previously classified into common factors by a factor analysis and correlation values among adjectives in each classification have been calculated. It is supposed hereinbelow that kansei expressed by a common factor is called a common kansei and kansei expressed by sets of paired adjectives is called a specific kansei for convenience.

<STEP 505> Generation of Criterion for Design Image

The unit 104 statistically processes the appraised results of sets of paired adjectives for a design image by the Semantic Differential by the evaluation theory class I to obtain combinations of elements constituting the design image and scores therefor with respect to respective sets of paired adjectives. FIG. 10 shows scores for combinations of structural elements of a design image (e.g., the shape and color of neck and, and so on) with respect to a set of paired adjectives, for example, "pretty-not pretty".

Incidentally, as described above, conventional system techniques may be used as they are for executing the processings at steps 504 and 505.

The aforementioned correspondence is learned, for example, by a multi-layer type neural network (an input layer: 1101, an intermediate (hidden) layer: 1102, an output layer: 1103) in the unit 104. As an example of a learning method, a back propagation method is employed which is widely known in general. Input signals to the network are the tops and bottoms, i.e., elements of the design image and combined patterns of characteristic data of the elements (those shown on the attribute sheet 706), while an output signal (also referred to as a teaching signal) is an appraisal learning sheet 1104 (FIG. 11B) indicating a column of scores for respective sets of paired adjectives. This appraisal learning sheet 1104 indicates scores for sets of paired adjectives, for example, "intellectual-not intellectual", "elegant-not elegant", and so on, which correspond to common kansei of the class I, for each common kansei. The neural network which has learned the above correspondence is then supplied with as many combinations as possible of elements of the design image including unknown combinations to simulate scores for respective sets of paired adjectives.

From the results, combinations of elements of the design image presenting a score above a predetermined value (for example, 0.5) are extracted for each set of paired adjectives and arranged in the order of larger scores. To make searching easier, files respectively having each element designated as a key are created and stored in the magnetic disk unit 203. Hereinbelow, this group of files is generally called a kansei database 1201 (FIG. 12). FIG. 12 shows scores for a set of paired adjectives "pretty-not pretty" when a form of skirt and a color of skirt are combined in a file with "blouse" as a key item (whose characteristic data is neck, white, etc.).

Each step in FIG. 5 represents a processing of the accumulation system directed to ordinary and multiple users (appraisers). On the other hand, each step in FIG. 6 represents a processing of a use system directed only to a single user or users belonging to a particular group. This processing of the use system is started by inputting from the input device 205 an instruction to start the processing.

<STEP 601> Comparison of User Kansei with Common Kansei

The unit 105 assumes an arbitrary common kansei and searches the kansei database 1201 to extract from the storage unit 203 the coordinates (a method of combining elements constituting a design image) which most intensively express an image of a typical set of paired adjectives related to the common kansei. Next, the unit 102, based on the extracted combination method, pastes image elements on a model image of a woman's figure to synthesize a design image of the coordinates and outputs the same to the graphic display 206. An appraisal to the output design image is inputted by appraisers, for example, in kansei of "like or dislike". For example, the appraiser picks an appropriate one of buttons 1301 on the screen with the mouse 205. Basically, a criterion forming the basis of a coordinates image to which "like" is selected is determined to be kansei of a particular user. The foregoing processings are repeated for all common kansei.

<STEP 602> Comparison of User Kansei with Specific Kansei

At this step, user kansei is more precisely analyzed by the unit 105. For each of specific kansei in the common kansei to which "like" has been selected at the previous step, design images are synthesized and the plurality of synthesized design images are simultaneously displayed on the graphic display 206. Then, answer to "which do you like better" with respect to the simultaneously displayed design images is inputted by picking one of buttons 1401 on the screen with the mouse 205. Thus, multiple specific kansei are rapidly narrowed down in accordance with a particular user's kansei and stored in the storage unit 203.

<STEP 603> Output of Design Image Based on Analyzed User's Kansei

The unit 106 finds the user kansei analyzed at step 602 in the kansei database 1201. In accordance with a designated combination (initially a default value) of elements (for example, a blouse is designated for the tops and a pair of pants for the bottoms), the coordinates having the largest score of the user kansei are extracted as desired coordinates. Then, image elements are pasted on the model image to create a design image which is outputted to the graphic display 206.

<STEP 604> Partial Change of a Design Image

Basically, the above steps 602 and 603 can propose coordinates with which the user is satisfied. However, the user is not always satisfied with the thus proposed coordinates. FIG. 15A shows that the bottoms is a satisfactory element 1501 while the tops is not a satisfactory element 1502. In this case, information for designating the user satisfied element 1501 is inputted from the input device 205. The unit 106 then determines that the remaining element is the unsatisfactory element 1502. For this element 1502, the unit 106 displays a question "Do you like this?". The user, after designating a satisfactory element, inputs OK or NO to the input device 205. An element 1503 which includes the satisfactory element 1501 and can obtain a high score, if combined with the element 1501, by the analyzed user's kansei is extracted from the kansei database 1201 as a proposed substitute for the element 1502 for alternative coordinates, and a design image is synthesized and outputted to the graphic display 206 by the unit 102. At this time, the user answers a question "How about this one?".

Of course, a generally used natural language interface may be employed as the unit 106 for designating an element for changing a combination. In this case, a change of an element can be specifically designated as to "How do you want to change it?". If the user inputs a requirement of, for example, "I want to make the image reddish in general.", candidates which are most likely to satisfy the requirement, for example, crimson, orange and so on are proposed in this order for such a change.

Incidentally, if information is inputted to designate the unsatisfactory element 1502 to determine that the remaining element 1501 is satisfactory, similar functions to the foregoing can be performed. Further, new elements (e.g., a hat and so on) may be added to candidates of satisfactory elements.

In the foregoing embodiment, as described above, an example has been given where the present invention is realized as a system for proposing recommendation of coordinates for women's clothes, however, the present invention is not of course limited thereto. The data processing apparatus described in the embodiment is widely applicable to a combination of other kinds of merchandise which requires a high-level kansei for determination such as furniture and audio equipment. Further, by considering features of human's appearance (shape and color of face, hair style, mustached or not, figure, and so on), features of fixture for displaying goods (color, shape, size), and so on, the present invention can be further widely applicable to a more delicate coordinates information service suitable to each individual as well as to the determination of a method of displaying goods in fixture which has an important role for designing a layout in a store.

According to the present invention as described above in detail, since the system can precisely analyze taste in complicated, subtle and widely changeable fashion, even sales staff insensitive to kansei of a target customer, if using this system, is supported to uniformly and stably carry out businesses requiring extremely high-level kansei such as face-to-face sales, store layout design, merchandise planning, and so on. 

We claim:
 1. A database preparing method for preparing a design database from which design database image elements are retrievable to build composite design images for decision making, the method comprising the steps of:a) inputting a design image into a processing unit, the design image being a combination of a plurality of separable image elements; b) extracting at least one of said separable image elements from said inputted design image; c) recording characteristic data which identifies said extracted image element; d) storing (1) said characteristic data and (2) said corresponding design image into a storage means; and e) repeating steps (a), (b), (c) and (d) to build said design database.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said design image is of a complete clothing outfit and said image elements are individual articles of clothing.
 3. The method according to claim 1 further including:a) inputting a selected one of the characteristic data which identifies a selected one of the image elements; b) retrieving design images which are stored in the storage means with said selected characteristic data; c) displaying each retrieved image such that each design image which includes the selected design element is displayed.
 4. A database preparing method, comprising the steps of:a) inputting an image of a product, which image is a combination of a plurality of partial images and is divisible into partial images; b) extracting one of the partial images of said inputted image; and c) storing a combination of (1) said extracted partial image and (2) said inputted image into a storage means as an element of said database for said product.
 5. The database preparing method according to claim 4, wherein said extracting step includes a substep of:a) performing a pattern matching process between said inputted design image and said one of the partial images stored in said memory.
 6. The database preparing method according to claim 4, wherein said extracting step includes substeps of:b-1) displaying said inputted design image on a display; and b-2) designating said one of the partial images of said inputted image to be extracted, whereby said designated partial image is displayed on said display by a designating means to cut the designated partial image out of said inputted image.
 7. The database preparing method according to claim 4, further including repeating steps (a), (b) and (c) with a plurality of product images to expand said database.
 8. The database preparing method according to claim 7, further including the steps of:inputting a selected partial image as a retrieval key; retrieving at least one product image which corresponds to said retrieval key from said storage means; and displaying said retrieved image.
 9. The database preparing method according to claim 8 wherein the product is clothing, the inputted image is an outfit, and the partial images include clothing and accessory items.
 10. A database preparing method comprising the steps of:a) inputting an image of a product, which image is divisible into partial images; b) extracting one of the partial images of said inputted image, said extracting step includes the substeps of:1) displaying said inputted image on a display, and 2) designating said one of the partial images of said inputted image to be extracted by tracing a boundary of said one of the partial images displayed on said display with a designating means which cuts said designated partial image out of said inputted image for display; and c) storing a combination of said extracted partial image and said inputted image into a storage means as an element of said database for said product.
 11. A database preparing method, comprising the steps of:a) inputting an image of a good, said inputted image being a combination of a plurality of partial images; b) extracting one of said partial images from said inputted image; c) obtaining characteristic data of said extracted partial image; and d) storing a combination of said characteristic data of said extracted partial image and said inputted image into a storage means as an element of said database for said good.
 12. The database preparing method according to claim 11, wherein said characteristic data is one of name, color, and shape of said extracted partial image.
 13. The database preparing method according to claim 11, wherein said step of extracting said partial image includes a substep of:performing a pattern matching process between said inputted image and said partial image stored in said memory.
 14. The database preparing method according to claim 11, wherein said extracting step (b) includes substeps of:b-1) displaying said inputted image on a display; and b-2) designating the partial image to be extracted on said display with a designating means which cuts out the designated partial image from the displayed image.
 15. A database preparing method comprising the steps of:a) inputting an image of a good; b) extracting a partial image from said inputted image, including the substeps of:1) displaying said inputted image on a display; and 2) designating the partial image to be extracted by tracing on said display a boundary of said partial image to be extracted with a designating means to cut out said partial image from the displayed image; and, c) obtaining characteristic data of said extracted partial image; and d) storing a combination of said characteristic data of said extracted partial image and said inputted image into a storage means as an element of said database for said good. 